Dissertation Research: Healing as Social Practice Among Hausa Women

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In contemporary African nations, men and women often adapt differently to the post-colonial world. While much is known about male responses, women's institutional responses have received less attention. To remedy this situation, the researcher will look at Hausa female healers who belong to the Bori possession cult in Niger. She will analyze cultural, social, and health related aspects in order to discover how the cult has historically adapted to recent changes in Niger. This research will establish how increasingly women in West African societies utilize health related voluntary associations in order to stabilize their social and power positions in rapidly changing situations. Women are a major economic and social force in Hausa society. Hausa cultural influence is pervasive and extends beyond Niger, from Nigeria to Egypt. Understanding the behavior of Hausa women is thus crucial to understanding all of northern Africa.